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Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, Minister of Interior of Malaysia, announced on 31 March 2011 that Malaysian Ministry of Interior by Immigration Office will use Residence Pass as of 1 April 2011. The new Residence Pass aims to attract and retain highly skilled foreign professionals and individuals whose demonstrated achievement and expertise in their filed are likely to benefit Malaysia growth to become an established high-income country within 2020.
Currently, Malaysian government issues 4 types of work permits; 1) Long Term Social Visit Pass: Issuing to Malaysian citizen’s partner; 2) Visit Pass (Temporary Employment):Issuing to unskilled or semi-skilled workers with 1 year validity and maximum 5 years extension; 3) Visit Pass (Professional):Issuing to foreign experts and allowing less than 12 months stay; and 4) Employment Pass (Expatriate): Issuing to skilled workers and foreign professionals whose wage are above 2,500 ringgit, with 2 year validity and option for extensions from the approval of considering committee.
Residence Pass holders will have following additional benefits to Employment Pass holders:
1) Permission to stay and work in Malaysia for 5-10 years with option for extensions.
2) Permission to change employers without having to obtain new permit
3) Holder’s partner and child (below 18 year of age) will receive Residence Pass, which allow them to work in the country
To apply for Residence Pass, applicants have to hold Employment Pass and have stayed or worked in Malaysia for three consecutive years. For highly skill foreign professionals, Residence Pass will be issued to those professionals who have registered with Talent Corporation Malaysia Berhad (TalentCorp), the Prime Minister Office’s Subordinate Company. Those who have not registered with the company will be approved later on.
Office of Labour Affairs in Malaysia is of an opinion that the launch of the new Residence Pass with all its benefits will attract more foreign professions including Thai ones, who are looking for position in Malaysia. It is noticed that Malaysia are trying to reduce the number of unskilled and semi-skilled foreign workers and attract more highly skilled workers to work in the country because it targets to gain a status of developed country by 2020.
